In Israel, the firstborn male child was given certain special rights and privileges.[1] The firstborn received a double portion of the father’s inheritance (Deut. 21:15-17). With the passing of the father, the firstborn male became the head of the family.[2] However, as head of the family, the firstborn male also acquired great responsibility, such as the requirement and expectation that he provide for his mother and unmarried sisters after his father’s death.[3] Figuratively, the “firstborn” stood for what was “most excellent.”[4] When describing Job’s illness, Bildad said, “The firstborn of death devours his limbs” (Job 18:13). Figuratively, then, Job was suffering from a powerful disease. Noticeably, there is a strong connection between the “firstborn” and “first fruits,” referencing strength, virility, prominence, and power (Gen. 49:3). Interestingly, even if a man had two wives, there was only one “firstborn.” The “firstborn” was called the first fruits of his father’s virility, and he was said to have certain special recognition (Deut. 21:15-17). At Luke 2:23, we read, “Every firstborn male will be dedicated to the Lord.”
As a nation, Israel was called God’s firstborn when compared to other nations (Exod. 4:22). In Israel, as stated above, every firstborn male was specially consecrated (set aside for special service) to the Lord (Exod. 13:2, 13). Reuben was the firstborn son of Jacob, and he, therefore, would have been specially consecrated. However, ultimately, the tribe of Levi was chosen by God to replace the tribe of Rueben as to its privileges and duties as head of the priesthood[5] (Numb. 3:12-16, 8:18-19). It is important for our reader to remember the special connection between the firstborn and the priesthood, which will be discussed further in later blogposts.
Prophetically, believers were told to anticipate the coming of God’s firstborn (the Messiah), who would be the greatest of the kings of the earth (Ps. 89:27). God’s firstborn was going to be given by God as a sacrifice for the sins of humanity (Mic. 6:7). In fact, Jesus Christ would be called “the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation” (Col.1:15). Now, everyone is required to worship God’s firstborn, His uniquely born Son (Heb. 1:6), who is entitled “to have first place in everything” (Col. 1:18). Jesus Christ is the first and the last, the beginning and the end (Rev. 1:17, 2:8, 22:13). He has the exalted position among all His brothers and sisters (Rom. 8:29), who are we believers, being adopted as co-heirs with Christ.
However, the New Testament writings also continued the theme of special blessings and responsibilities for certain special believers called the Firstborn. The writer of Hebrews mentioned a category of believers called the “church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven” (Heb. 12:23). In my opinion, this special group of believers have been previously described with significant detail in the Old Testament. For example, in the Book of Malachi, we read as follows:
Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord listened attentively and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and esteem His name. “And they will be Mine,” says the Lord of armies, “on the day that I prepare my own possession, and I will have compassion for them just as a man has compassion for his own son who serves him.” So you will again distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.
Mal. 3:16-18.
Please notice that the firstborn fear the Lord and have high regard for His name. They are God’s special possession. These believers are unashamedly servants of the Lord. These believers are experientially righteous. In my opinion, these mature, servant believers will rule with Christ. It is also my opinion that there is an equivalency between the Book of Remembrance (Mal 3:16), the Book of Life (Ps. 69:28; Phil. 4:3; Rev. 3:5, 13:8, 17:8, 20:12-15, 21:27, 22:19), and the Assembly of the Firstborn (Heb. 12:23).
Many of our readers may be familiar with the Old Testament story of Jacob and Esau and how Esau sold his birthright (as the firstborn) to Jacob for a pot of stew (Gen. 25: 29-34; Heb. 12:16). This story is an example of insightful Biblical Imagery and is a powerful teaching aid to explain to Christians the importance of the privileges and responsibilities of being the firstborn. Of significance, Esau sold his rights of being the firstborn to his brother, Jacob, to satisfy his appetites. He did not value his birthright (Gen. 25:34; Heb. 12:16). In a similar way, every Christian has been given the privilege of being the firstborn of God (just like how Israel was God’s firstborn), but most Christians (like most ancient Israelites) sell this privilege to satisfy their appetites. Such believers fail to mature because they are distracted by other desires. Unfortunately, Christians often fail to prioritize growing to spiritual maturity. Instead, most believers are distracted by the lusts of the eyes, lusts of the flesh, and the pride of life (1 John 2:15-17). As the writer of Hebrews noted, many Christians will sell their birthright in their pursuit of sexual immorality (Heb. 12:16). Such believers are called bebelos, which means “profane and common.”[6]
The loss of one’s privileges as the firstborn is a redundant theme in the Bible. “The [Old Testament] story of the younger sibling supplanting the firstborn is so common as to become an archetype.”[7] Examples include Isaac over Ishmael, Jacob over Esau, Joseph over his older brothers, Ephraim over Manasseh, and David over his older brothers.[8] All of these examples serve as a powerful warning that there will be many Christians who will lose out on receiving the privileges and blessings associated with being one of the Firstborn because they sold their birthright to satisfy their appetites.
#maturebelievers #firstborn #jacobandesau #inheritance #firstfruits
[1] “Firstborn in Israel.” Unger, Merrill F. The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary. Chicago, Moody Press, 1988.
[2] “Firstborn in Israel.”
[3] “Firstborn in Israel.”
[4] “Firstborn in Israel.”
[5] “Firstborn in Israel.”
[6] “G952 – bebēlos – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (nasb20).” Blue Letter Bible. Web. 23 May, 2022. <https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g952/nasb20/mgnt/0-1/>.
[7] “First.” Dictionary of Biblical Imagery, edited by Leland Ryken, et al, InterVarsity Press, 1998.
[8] “First.”